Anne Tyler read an excerpt of Karen de Balbian Verster's novel, Boob, A Story of Sex, Cancer & Stupidity, and wrote, “‘Mother’s Day’ made me laugh out loud.” Another excerpt, “Tabula Rasa,” appeared in The Breast: An Anthology and Publishers Weekly called it a “fluid, moving story.” Many excerpts from Boob, A Story of Sex, Cancer & Stupidity and her novel-in-progress, Desperately Seeking Dutch, have been published in literary reviews and anthologies such as Widener Review, Global City Review, The Breast: An Anthology, Promethean, Shore Stories, Lifestories, and Amuse. Her poetry has appeared in Rising to the Dawn, Calliope and poetsonline.com. 

Boob, A Story of Sex Cancer & Stupidity, is her first published novel. She is at work on several novels: Desperately Seeking Dutch, The Trip from Hell and WYSIWYG.

READINGS & SIGNINGS

De Balbian Verster has done Readings & Signings of Boob, A Story of Sex, Cancer & Stupidity at Borders Books in New York City, Nashville, and Stroudsburg, PA, as well as at the NYC Grand Opening of New Voices Bookstore, and locally at Waldenbooks, Northampton Community College and the Eastern Monroe Public Library. On previous occasions, de Balbian Verster was invited to read at KGB, the Knitting Factory, Posman Booksellers, St. Peters Church, Cornelia Street Café and Other Voices.

EDUCATION

De Balbian Verster received a BFA from Parsons School of Design, and MFA in Creative Writing from City College of New York, and was awarded a Goodman Fund Grant in recognition of the body of work she completed while enrolled at City, as well as fellowships at Palenville Interarts Colony and Ragdale Interarts Colony. Her work has twice been a finalist for a Heekman Foundation Award, and also a finalist for a James Fellowship.

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT

De Balbian Verster has had a variety of jobs (mostly in NYC) that utilize her artistic & writing abilities including freelance copywriter, freelance journalist, book jacket copywriter for B&N on-line books, Publications Manager for a Japanese brokerage house, manager of Advertising & Public Relations for a music licensing firm, assistant Art Director for a design firm, commissioned artist, and college English professor. In pursuit of more writing time, she has also worked as a model, cashier, waitress, bartender, for a temp agency, and delivering the Village Voice.

VOLUNTEER WORK

Pro bono work has included editing Global City Review (Nov 96 "Fish Out of Water" issue with Patricia Chao and Jennifer Coke), visiting the elderly at the Village Center for Care, leading a writing & drawing workshop at the Manhattan Center for Living, delivering Meals on Wheels, running the NYC marathon with Achilles Track Club ('89, '91 -- while undergoing chemo, as well as running individually in '86 -- 4:12:01), talking about farm animals (with her daughter) while wearing period dress at Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm festivals, leading a yoga class for seniors, and teaching a creative writing master class at ESU’s Older Adult Learning Center. She and her daughter have hosted a Fresh Air Fund child and have participated in Big Sisters.